Black walnut trees do best growing in deep, fertile, moist yet well-drained soil with texture ranging from sandy loam, loam, and silt loam to silty clay loam. Walnut trees belong to the genus Juglans, which includes about 20 species grown for their edible nuts and attractive foliage. As such they should be planted on free-draining, fertile soils, in as sunny a position as you can afford them. See the tips section for an alternate planting method to protect against squirrels and other small animals. Till a 12 square foot area down to the depth of at least 10 inches to remove any grass, weeds or other plants that compete for the new trees water and nutrients. Growing walnuts require 140 to 150 days with temperatures over 27 to 29 F. (-2 to -6 C.) for the earliest ripening varieties. Use at least two varieties or seedlings to assure good crops. For more advice, including how to protect your tree from squirrels and other pests, keep reading. Heavy clay or sandy soils are not ideal. Just keep the dirt moist. He has a Masters in Public Health Nutrition and Public Health Planning and Administration from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. % of people told us that this article helped them. Till a 12 square foot area to at least 10 inches in depth and be sure to remove any grass, weeds, or other plants that may impede with the walnut tree's growth. Black walnuts are hardy down to USDA zone 4. Consider planting black walnut trees if you live in USDA hardiness zones 5a through 9a with at least 25 inches (63.5 cm.) Try driving over them in a car. Do I have to put walnuts in the soil before I put them in a moist place? Put the seedling in the hole to the same depth as the pot or bury the roots 1 to 2 inches below the soil. If the top of the tree is forked, bend the best leader upright and tape it to other branches as support, then cut off the tip of the supporting branches to prevent growth. Bare-root seedlings, sold without any soil, should be planted in early spring, before bud growth, and should be planted immediately after acquiring. Plant your nuts in the fall, and protect them from squirrels. We plant them directly in the field (in areas with mild winters) or in individual pots containing special soil mix (soil with river sand and compost etc.). For the first 2 years after planting, make sure to water your tree once a week and keep the area free of sod and weeds, which can interfere with the growth of new seedlings. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Healthy walnut trees will bear for many decades. Then, dig a hole 1 to 2 inches larger than the walnut seedling’s root ball. For the sake of communicating, botanists and horticulturists divide vegetation into different categories. ", collected, according to the instructions. Now I know to store in a dark, cool place till spring. Add mulch as needed each spring. The English or Persian and black walnuts are the most common, used for nut production as well as shade trees. References We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. And you want to look for fallen nuts that have splits in the casing. This helped him a lot. Walnut trees produce not only a delicious, nutritious nut but are used for their wood for fine furniture. After that, they need plenty of sun. Your garden is doomed! How do you know when to start harvesting walnuts? At the moment I’m struggling to think of a better thing to do than to plant a walnut tree, other than to plant more than one walnut tree:) So here I present the Essential Guide to Everything you Need to Know about Walnuts. Fill in the hole and tamp down to eliminate any air pocket around the roots. Remove one end, and cut an X-shaped opening in the other end using a chisel. How to Grow Walnut Trees This topic is broken into a series of articles that focus on the key components of planting and growing walnut trees. Before you can plant a walnut tree, you’ll need to place a walnut in a plastic bag, then keep it in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 months over the winter for the seed to start sprouting. For a larger quantity of walnuts, run them through a corn sheller, or even rotate them in a cement mixer with gravel and water for 30 minutes. Established walnut trees need at least 25 inches of rain or the application of an equivalent amount of water per year. Even if they do, the nuts were likely produced by a hybrid tree or a tree variety suited for a different climate, making success in your area unlikely. Approved. Now I know. The cold-moist requirement can also be accomplished through a process called stratification. These nuts will germinate and grow better than nuts that aren't used to your region's climate and soils, according to North Dakota State University. This article has been viewed 246,898 times. Prune any dead or damaged limbs as the tree matures; otherwise, there is no need to prune. Also, keep in mind that walnut trees don’t start producing nuts until about 10 years after they have been planted and the nut production will peak at about 30 years after planting. Each branch removed opens a door to infection and to a great many diseases such as fungus and rot.. Knock down nuts when ripe, remove the peel and dry. However, the may or may not have the characteristics of the parent trees. Can it be stored in water for the weekend and still be viable for planting later? We use cookies to make wikiHow great. When one plant creates a substance that can deter or change the growth of another it’s called allelopathy and walnut trees and their juglone are often cited as a prime offender.. Place the seedlings into the hole and bury the roots 1 to 2 inches below the soil. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. The walnut tree hates being pruned. unlocking this expert answer. Almond must be cross pollinated by another variety. Optionally, you may plant two or more nuts in each spot, 8 inches (20 cm) from each other. Contact your local nursery for untreated walnuts for planting. My other memory of the tree was the … They’re by nature hungry trees. "I have seedlings, and needed to know how far apart they should be planted. Troubleshooting. Seed Stratification - Preparing Walnuts For Spring Germination Temperate trees like black walnut, require stratification in order to germinate in the spring. While you can technically plant your Walnut tree at any point during its dormant period, ideally this should be carried out during Autumn if possible. 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